Geothermal

Ground Source Heat Pumps
With today’s technology there are many ways you can save money by being aware of how to “Go Green” and apply it to the plumbing & heating systems in your home or commercial building. In the process of altering your homes’ systems to be more efficient and less expensive, you will also be rewarded with the satisfaction that you have done your part in improving the health of planet Earth. By choosing a renewable energy system as an alternate way of providing heat, hot water and air conditioning for your home, you have picked the healthiest option for our planet. Geothermal systems use ground source heat pumps (GSHP).

What is Geothermal?
Geothermal is the most Earth friendly and efficient way of providing heating, hot water and cooling for your home or commercial building. Today’s ground source heating and cooling. This technology provides a proven method for saving significant amounts of energy for any application. GSHP systems operate at significantly lower costs than traditional gas, oil or electric based installations. GSHPs are electronically powered that tap into the stored energy of the greatest solar collector in existence: the Earth! Geothermal systems use the Earth’s relatively constant temperature to provide heating, cooling and hot water for homes and commercial buildings. Geothermal is an investment that keeps giving. It will continue to save you money over the years. You will automatically start to save on all of your utility bills. The best part… the cost of the new system, will have paid for itself in just a few years.

Your SAVINGS :

  • Heating Efficiencies: Geothermal systems are 50-70% more efficient than other heating systems.
  • Save on operating and maintenance costs
  • Cooling Efficiencies: Geothermal systems are 20-40% more efficient than other cooling systems.
  • Some utilities offer rebates or incentives to their customers who have GSHP systems.

Benefits of Ground Source Heat Pumps are:

  • GSHPs conserve natural resources by providing climate control efficiently thus lowering emissions.
  • GSHPs minimize ozone layer destruction by using factory-sealed refrigeration systems, which will seldom or never need to be recharged.
  • GSHPs use underground loops to transfer heat, with no external venting and no air pollution.
  • GSHPs are electronically powered that tap into the stored energy of the greatest solar collector, the Earth.

Benefits of Geothermal:

  • Can be used for a combination of heating/cooling and hot water heating system
  • Can save you up to 50% on your water-heating bill by preheating tank water
  • Pipes carry up to a 50 year warranty
  • Can cut energy consumption by 20-50% and reduce maintenance costs
  • Keeps the air warmer in the winter and at a more consistent temperature, eliminating hot and cold spots with other systems
  • No noisy fan units or exposed equipment outdoors
  • No open flame, flammable fuel or potentially dangerous fuel storage tanks
  • Your investment will be recouped in only a few years

Geothermal uses Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) which have closed or open loops that can be installed horizontally, vertically or in a pond/lake. The type of installation chosen depends on the available land areas and the soil and rock type at the installation site.

The following are types of Geothermal Loop installations:

Vertical Loop: Watch a video on Vertical Loop
These loop systems are used mainly when land area is limited. A drilling rig is used to bore holes to depths of approximately 125 to 250 feet deep. A u-shaped loop of high density polyethylene pipe is inserted. The holes are then back filled with a sealing solution. The system is closed loop meaning that the same solution placed in the system is continuously re-circulated through the system.

Horizontal Loop: Watch a video on Horizontal Loop
These loop systems are used when adequate land is available. Loop installers use a chain trencher or backhoe to dig trenches. Each trench is approximately 6 feet deep. Trench lengths range from 100 to 300 feet, depending on loop design and application. This process is also a closed loop system.

Pond Loop: Watch a video on Pond Loop
Option available if a large body of water is present. A ½-acre, 8 feet deep body of water is usually sufficient for the average home. This closed loop system places coiled pipe on the bottom of the body of water.

Open Loop: Watch a video on Open Loop
This system does not continuously run the same solution through the geothermal system. Ground water is pulled from one location, ran through the geothermal unit, and discharged into another location. Two requirements are needed for an open loop system. The first is an abundant supply of well water must be available. The second is that a proper discharge site such as a ditch, field tile, stream, or pond must also be present. Check your local codes before selecting a discharge method.

Call today to schedule a consultation with one of our many licensed heating system technicians.